Bunnings trip gets Moffat back on track

A late night trip to Bunnings Warehouse is set to help James Moffat return to the track after being the innocent victim of shunt in TCR Australia practice at The Bend Motorsport Park.

The Garry Rogers Motorsport driver copped a heavy hit from series leader Will Brown (HMO Customer Racing) in opening practice, which ruled him out of the day’s remaining 30 minute outing. 

Brown aquaplaned in tricky wet conditions on the run to Turn 6 before ploughing into the back of Moffat’s Renault Megane at 140 km/h.  

Such was the damage the team took the car’s rear roll bar and exhaust to nearby Tailem Bend for off site repairs.

With parts scarce for the TCR spec Megane, which is one of handful in existence, the team has had to source polycarbonate from a Bunnings Warehouse in Murray Bridge on Friday night to create a new rear windscreen to complete the repair.

“I think all going well we will be back for Saturday which has been a remarkable effort from everybody in the crew,” Moffat told Speedcafe.com.

“We had a to take the rear roll bar and the exhaust down to Tailem Bend and get them repaired and there was chap down there that was good enough to do that for us.

“We have got some polycarbonate from Bunnings. 

“Somebody tracked that down for us and the Bunnings at Murray Bridge is open until 9pm tonight so the guys have whipped down there to grab that and they will probably fit that in the morning.”

Moffat praised the efforts of his team to repair the car and salvage his weekend.

“I know what GRM are capable of. When there is damaged cars and adversity there is no better team in pit lane. They have worked minor miracles,” he added.      

The GRM driver is expected to join the field that will return to the track for qualifying at 1035 local time.